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The 2015 LaFerrari Fuel Tank Upgrade: Fire Risk, Facts and Aftermath
In March 2015 Ferrari began upgrading the fuel tanks of every LaFerrari already delivered to customers. The work re-coated the tank, took about eight hours per car and cost owners nothing. Ferrari said there was no serious safety risk and did not treat it as an official recall. Production of the 499 coupés continued, and no LaFerrari was withdrawn from the road.
Key takeaways
- Service campaign from March 2015: the fuel tank of each delivered LaFerrari was re-coated to reduce the risk of fire.
- About eight hours of work per car, free of charge, done during normal servicing.
- Ferrari: no serious risk to owners, so not an official recall.
- A separate US recall in July 2015 corrected a tyre-pressure warning on 85 cars.
What Ferrari announced in March 2015
The news broke in mid-March 2015. Autocar and Motor Authority reported that Ferrari would upgrade the fuel tanks on all LaFerraris delivered so far. Motor Authority described the job as an eight-hour re-coating of the tank, aimed at a tank less prone to catching fire. Owners would have it done at their next routine service.
Size at a glance
Lamborghini Veneno
The Ferrari LaFerrari is 318 mm shorter, 83 mm narrower and 49 mm lower than the Lamborghini Veneno.
| Dimensions | Ferrari LaFerrari | Lamborghini Veneno | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,702 mm185.1 in | 5,020 mm197.6 in | −318 mm−12.5 in |
| Width | 1,992 mm78.4 in | 2,075 mm81.7 in | −83 mm−3.3 in |
| Height | 1,116 mm43.9 in | 1,165 mm45.9 in | −49 mm−1.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,650 mm104.3 in | 2,700 mm106.3 in | −50 mm−2.0 in |
Our report of 6 April 2015 went further than the facts. It said the cars could catch fire at any moment and that Ferrari might recall every car and stop production. Neither happened. Ferrari called the work an upgrade, and the factory kept building cars for its waiting customers.
LaFerrari at a glance
The Ferrari LaFerrari was Maranello's first hybrid road car, revealed at the Geneva show in March 2013.
| Item | LaFerrari coupé |
|---|---|
| Engine | 6,262 cc V12, 588 kW at 9,000 rpm |
| Electric motor | 120 kW (HY-KERS) |
| System output | 708 kW (963 PS), 900 Nm |
| Gearbox | 7-speed dual-clutch |
| 0–100 km/h | under 3 s |
| Top speed | over 350 km/h |
| Built | 499 coupés, plus a 500th car for charity in 2016 |
| UK price | about 1.15 million pounds (around €1.6 million in 2015) |
With a dry weight of 1,255 kg, each kilowatt of system output moves about 1.8 kg, by our calculation. Ferrari offered the car to existing clients by invitation.
Why a fuel tank needs a coating
Ferrari never published the technical reason for the coating, though coverage linked it to fire safety.
For a car built in such small numbers, a voluntary campaign let Ferrari treat every car during normal service visits, without the formal filings a recall requires.
Recalls and events after 2015
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2015 | Fuel tank re-coating campaign for all delivered coupés |
| July 2015 | US recall 15V306000: 85 cars get software for the correct tyre-pressure warning |
| September 2016 | LaFerrari Aperta revealed at the Paris show; 210 built |
| December 2016 | The 500th LaFerrari is auctioned for charity |
| February 2019 | US recall of 2017 Aperta and other models over fuel vapour separators that could crack |
| 17 October 2024 | Ferrari F80 revealed as the successor |
The tyre-pressure recall was unrelated to fire: after a puncture, US cars told the driver to keep below 50 mph instead of stopping. The 2019 recall covered up to 2,150 Ferraris in the United States, including the Aperta, and blamed a supplier's manufacturing defect.
The LaFerrari in 2026
In October 2026 the LaFerrari is a collector's car that trades at auction and between private owners. Its role as flagship passed to the Ferrari F80, a 883 kW V6 hybrid limited to 799 cars, with about 25 % more power by our calculation. The track-only Ferrari FXX K remains the most extreme car built on the LaFerrari's base.
The LaFerrari suits collectors of Ferrari flagships rather than track-day drivers, who are better served by the FXX K. Any buyer should ask for Ferrari service records proving that the 2015 tank campaign and later recalls were done. Check output figures in the power-to-weight calculator, see where it stands in the 1cars rankings or browse the supercars section.
FAQ
Was the LaFerrari recalled for a fire risk?
Not officially. In March 2015 Ferrari ran a voluntary campaign to re-coat the fuel tanks of all delivered cars. It said there was no serious safety risk, so the work was not filed as a recall.
How long did the LaFerrari fuel tank upgrade take?
Reports put the job at about eight hours per car. It was free for owners and was done at a routine service at a Ferrari dealer.
How many LaFerrari cars did Ferrari build?
Ferrari built 499 coupés and one extra coupé that was auctioned for charity in December 2016. It also built 210 open LaFerrari Aperta cars, revealed in September 2016.
What replaced the LaFerrari?
The Ferrari F80, revealed on 17 October 2024, took over as Ferrari's limited-series flagship. It uses a twin-turbo V6 with three electric motors and is limited to 799 cars.
